MORE FUN, MORE FUNDS
These days, fund raising concerts have become fun raising. Make the people feel good so that they may give. Star celebrities perform so that they may feel good also, give themselves the publicity to improve their popularity index. Why can't they put the amount of effort and money spent on the preparations and the actual programme itself into weekly or monthly community services to the said charity or charities.
Giving to the poor must bring about inconveniences. Jesus told of the story of the good Samaritan who saw to it that the injured man is restored fully. Jesus told the rich to invite the blind, the lame, the deaf etc. to their homes for buffet. But all these inconveniences will lead to joy. When Jesus gave to others, it was for joy. There is no element of fun in it. So, what's the difference between fun and joy? These day, most churches reflect exactly like how the world raise funds with raising a lot of fun...
GIVINGS
It is possible to give "peanuts" to God and unknowingly making Him a "monkey".
It is possible to "tip" God and unknowingly making Him a waiter.
BUT it is impossible to give sacrificially to God and unknowingly making Him The Master.
Ignorant of the Truth and Ignoring the Truth are compatible to one another. The Truth is not upheld.
Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened
Words and music by Bob Hartman
Based on Psalm 95:7-8, Hebrews 3:13
(Chorus)
Don't let your heart be hardened - don't let your love grow cold
May it always stay so childlike - may it never grow too old
Don't let your heart be hardened - may you always know the cure
Keep it broken before Jesus, keep it thankful, meek, and pure
May it always feel compassion - may it beat as one with God's
May it never be contrary - may it never be at odds
May it always be forgiving - may it never know conceit
May it always be encouraged - may it never know defeat
May your heart be always open - never satisfied with right
May your heart be filled with courage and strengthened with all might
Let His love rain down upon you
Breaking up your fallow ground
Let it lossen all the binding
Till only tenderness is found
INTEGRITY
Integrity is someone who after pressing the button for the "green man" at the pedestrian crossing, will not cross even when after awhile the traffic is clear while still waiting for the "green man". The reasoning behind is that the vehicles will not stop for nothing if one is to cross. A simple action like this will determine whether the person does really think of others. Another example are couples in their romantic walk that takes up the whole narrow pathway causing a slow down in human traffic and inconvenient others to walk on the grass patch to over take them. Love is not blind. Love is not self seeking. Love always think of others. Where is "Love your neighbour as you love yourself".
Many Christians are guilty of the above actions unknowingly. Ignorance is off no excuse after reading this…
L.I.F.E
If LIFE is found in Jesus Christ, then Christians should be:
"Living In Faith Everyday!" which results in "Living In Favour Everyday!"
If LIFE is not found in Jesus Christ, the world will be:
"Living In Fear Everyday!" which results in "Living In Fatigue Everyday!"
Look at the Church today, does one see the LIFE of the world?
DECIETFULNESS
The boy who got himself and his friends lost for 3 days when they went trekking without a guide was made an instant hero when he got back to school. What was the signal sent? Did the boys got lost out of ignorance or arrogance? Looking at the deceptive heart of a human, what the school did was probably a publicity stunt.
During the SARS episode, every school principal made sure that temperature checks were done stringently. Negligence of this level was of no excuse. What were in minds of the principals during those times? “Make sure the temperature checks are done properly or else there my head is gone?” or “Make sure the temperature checks are done properly or a life may be lost?” Looking at the deceptive heart of a human, who will take first place... self or others?
STUPIDITY a.k.a. FOOLISH
“Stupidity” is defined as one who has full knowledge of what is right and did not apply it when the moment it should have been applied, then
How can a teacher calls a student stupid when he/she doesn't understand?
How can a parent calls a child stupid when he/she gets 40 marks where that was as much he/she can possibly do the test? Or off course the stupidity may come from the child who did not make full use of time to study.
The no. 1 Fool is Satan. He knew who God was and yet still trying outwit God when he himself has been outwitted numerous times since the dawn of time.
There are many foolish people around. They knew who God was and yet still unrepentant on the way they live their lives. When people reject God after having full knowledge of what He has done, they really show their stupidity:
“A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur.... The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still DID NOT repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood – idols that cannot see or hear or walk. NOR DID they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Rev. 9:18-21
